Cartridge finishing machines



June 5, 1956 l. GUTMAN 2,748,449

CARTRIDGE FINISHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 1'7, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l IMVENTOR 135m Gum June 5, 1956 l. GUTMAN CARTRIDGE FINISHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1952 luvsu-roa Isa: GHATMAN by I Wm Q

Ream-rs June 5, 1956 l. GUTMAN 2,748,449

CARTRIDGE FINISHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 11 1952 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lmltu-r m IsAJ G -rMAN 8% mm,% v Q..

AGENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. '17, 1952 INVENTofi lsns G'LFKMAH W,m v c..

AGENTS lea from he ef te fi ute CARTRIDGE FINISHING MACHINES i meh ene England Application September 17, 1952, Serial No. 310,009

Claim p i rit mtli atie Gheet Br a September 20, 1951 7 Claims. (Cl. 29-13) Ihis invention relates to machines for finishing cartridges and has for its chief object to produce a new and improved machine which is automatic in operation and which will serve to improve both the rate of production and also the quality of finished cartridgesf V V V i i According to the invention the machine comprises a carrier member adapted to hold a plurality of cartrid in such a manner that when in position, each will" be firmly held egeihst v'em h r atively to sai member, means for imparting an intermittent or step step motion to said member to bring each cartridge thereby successively into alignment with diiierent' rotary tools and means for operating the tools tinted relation with the movements of the carrier member. Preferably, the carrier member is the form of a or the like to which an intermittent rotary motion is imparted, said drum having a plurality .of collets or retaining devices around the periphery thereof, each adapted to re ceive and hold a cartridge. Preferably also thejrnachine will n p t n ut me ie eeti de i s? that ea tri g will e ed si g h Pes tieh t e etti member in timed relation with the movements of the latter and, furthermore, control means may be provided so that in the event of fa lty cartridges being delivered b the ach th weathe f the le te ill he liteniat'ically discontinued n order hat h a itt en fen h y be e eetly hatt sieeti and e i rr iht efi t th sam will new ti ere fully de ri d with etetes e e the eee ihrehyihs drawings, in which F gu 1 is .e Pa etiehel sid le ti hei Vie at a a ridge fi hin 91 1 38 i u e 2 is as en e et ehe' i w l hih hem the right of Figure l;

Fi 3 is e s eh e the has Qt F gure V Figu e 4 i e ide eie tiehe ie of the e rtrlitl te meeheh m;

ig r is a ehs tt ha seet eh thr hs a art 9 ee! :h l i lus ati g ele rly the een t etieh and a e i t e the ee i figu e 6 i a se t qh en t e l n ,6\-6 9t g iighrefi;

u e 7 i en .eievatiehe vi w on e We; stal Re e in n w to the drawin s, 1.!) tiehetes a .hese 9? stand on whi h we e hths 11 a e thehh etl s e nn se v n t ppo an ile .dr hh 1 h drum 12 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal a ds, the "shaft or axle supporting the same beirrg supported in bearings *13 carried by said columns 11. Located around i the periphery of the drum is a plurality, e. g; six, collets or like retaining devices 14; each of which adapted to receive and hold a cartridge, the arrangement being such United States Patent 2,748,449 Ice at ted l the 5 152 56 2 h e a d es Wi be eld Wi hei qhsit t i al axes parallel to the of rotation of the 'dru'mf M ht at QPP site ides f h rum erle tea as: seht es desi nated eth r-al y .5 and 16 he ha r of tgol p es n d nen 'g en he umb e ope to e Performed h a ea t id et h t e. m m I ll st a ed t r tiQl a d sposed a ea h de f t e 18125 he a semb y des n ted 1 emt r s g, etexample, a. d ll e t dril ing e'base of the a trid' e a devise) o p ev di per ph ies! gro n h fcae itl e and a de or is i and/o mark h he base'of said cartridge. The assembly designated l6mlay eeh eh ehtl eetnn i e a tpol f r fi h n t e open end at. t e cartridge, an d v se e P n nd l he and subsequently. drying the interior of the cartridge.

The tool are adapt d to be driven through the rriediun or ean; is and 19,, 2 0 which are disposed it-hung pulleys andvare driven from a shaft 21 which is rotatably journalled Within the ba e r standie and is driyen n i able me r (n t s hi a f e is q 1 1 that addition to a rotary motion it is also c p'gbie'qr reciproeatory motion back and forth in a horizontal path. As will be clearlyseen from'the right hand side of Figii r'e l and also from Figures 2 and 3, the driveh s atter spindle 2 catty-it the chuck or tool holder, is rotatably journalled ina block 23 carried by a slide memberf wht eh i i ble en a guide meunteti et e p i integrally with a stationary pa rt'of'th'e machine.

interposed between the bloclc 23 and the slide member the a. we e t eeei ie all w f e lt'us hei t at the ta so t at h etter he be ac a e ined up w he rt d to e hies i e black 2 a ea hi 27 hie is formed iht ll t a sl ve .8 slideh y h sitated 9 e' hi 29- A spring 9 s r istieiat q wi h h s e 2% u h spring e in t r e sa d le e and hehe he e 2 h he' e ee ied the i-ht a he a ed P itie see e i h h s e e 28 sie e lewr r :1, h e is adapted to n a e 32. f xedly ei ted eh a sh Eaeh teel e i99 h er i eth of he ass m ie 15 en 1 is m e in he mash r sh ve des b d and hence h e 115, 1e. 32, $4 and 35 are provided in respect of each tool ass mbly- In ord r to ef t th ne s y rec p e a e y mo ion of the tools a drive is transmitted from a motor 36 iocated within the base or stand 10; by means of a belt 37 and WQI'IH g ri g 38 to a sh ft 39 c ry ng on se f earns 32, 35- Th sh f 39 carries a g a wheel 0 whi h meshes with a p nion 41 carri y a sh ft 42 rotatably journalled in bearings 43 mounted on the base 03.- stand 10. The shaft 512. carries a seycond pinion 4,4 whi h is a ap ed to m sh wi h a g r wheel 4.5 carried by th shaft 30thereby to impart a drive to the second set a eat-as. 3. 34 A le me e en the shaft 50 is a her he 9' wh e is a a t o e r p ete ds or like {1.7 on a disc 48 which latter is keyed to T shj aft upportingthedrum 12. It will be appreciated th t hii eheih f mete 36, a p by step thetion will "be imparted to the drum 12 while .in addition the twe s s 'tc'am 3,4 1 5 wi e ret e ereby to cause the tools to be advanced and retracted into and from their operative positions in timed relation with the movements of the drum 12. 4

Figure 4 a convenient mechanism is illustrated for feedingthe cartridges to the drum 12. Referring "now to thatfigure, 49 denotes ahopper which is provided with a delivery 50 down which'the cartridges pass under the action of gravity. Located at the mouth of the delivery is a spring 51 which is adapted normally to retain the cartridges and to prevent their uncontrolled escape. 52 generally denotes a feed mechanism which comprises an arm 53 which is pivotally mounted on a lever 54. The arm 53 which is suitably shaped at its outer end to receive a cartridge carries a spring 55 which is adapted, in conjunction with the end of said arm 53, resiliently to grip the lowermost cartridge in the delivery 50. The arm 53 is maintained in its operative position in relation to the lever 54 by means of a spring 55, the latter serving to allow said arm a degree of play, suflicient to ensure satisfactory engagement of the cartridge to be fed. The arrangement is such that the lever 54 will be rocked in timed relation with the movement of the drum 12, so that when an empty collet in the latter is presented at the loading station, the arm 53 will be moved forwardly to transport the lowermost cartridge in the delivery 50 along a path designated A into a position wherein it will be aligned with the collet. 56 denotes a loader member which is capable of an angular movement and also of a bodily movement along a line at right-angles to the plane of the drawing, the arrangement being such that when a cartridge is aligned with a collet, the member 56 will be actuated to effect the necessary axial movement of the cartridge from the feeder arm 53 and into said collet. It will be appreciated that as the arm 53 moves forwardly to feed a cartridge, the spring 51 will be displaced momentarily to allow passage of the cartridge but it (said spring 51) will immediately thereafter return to its operative position to hold the succeeding cartridge in the delivery 50.

The feed mechanism indicated above is well known and further description herein is not considered necessary.

The machine above described is adapted to operate as follows:

As indicated above, the drum 12 has a step by step motion imparted thereto and as an empty collet 14 is brought into the loading station, said drum will be stopped to allow a cartridge to be fed into said collet. When the cartridge is fed, the collet is closed automatically by known means and the drum is rotated through a predetermined angle to bring the cartridge into alignment with the first tooling station. At this point, the drum again stops and another tool from each of the assemblies 15, 16 will be moved forwardly by virtue of the action of the cams 34 into operative relationship with the cartridge to perform the appropriate operations thereon. At the same time a second cartridge will be fed to the next succeeding collet 14, which, due to the movement of the drum 12 has then been brought into proximity with the feed mechanism. On a further movement of the drum 12, the second cartridge will be brought into alignment with the first tooling station while the first cartridge will be moved into alignment with the second tooling station and a third cartridge will be fed to the next succeeding collet 14, brought into position adjacent the feed mechanism. On continued movement of the drum 12, the first cartridge will be moved to the third tooling station, the second and third cartridges being moved to the second and first tooling stations while a fourth will be fed into the fourth collet. The process will go on continuously as long as the machine is in operation, the cartridges being moved successively through the tooling stations 'whereat they are operated on from both sides or ends,

each cartridge being discharged automatically from its collet after passing the third tooling station and arriving at a delivery or discharge point. It will be appreciated that, due to the provision of the cams 32, 34 and 35, the various tools will be operated in timed relation with the drum 12 being advanced into their operative positions in each stoppage of the drum and being retracted into an inoperative position on rotary or angular movement 4 of the latter. The drive to the various tools from the shaft 21 via the belts 17, 18, 19 and 20 will preferably be continuous while the machine is operative, although, if desired, means may be incorporated to ensure that the drive will be effective on projective movement of the tools and will be cut out on retractive movement thereof.

If desired, mechanism may be disposed at or adjacent the discharge point from the drum 12, such mechanism being adapted to test the finished cartridge, means also being incorporated so that in the event that two or any other selected number of successive cartridges are below the required standard, the machine will be stopped automatically. For example, a control member which is capable of movements similar to those performed by the member 56 (i. e. an angular movement and a bodily movement axially relatively to the cartridge), may be provided at the opposite side of the drum for checking whether the fire hole has been drilled in each cartridge, the arrangement being such that if axial movement of the control member does not take place (e. g. if there is no hole or if the hole is obstructed so that entry of a pin carried by said member is prevented) a microswitch will become operative to effect stoppage of the machine.

It will be appreciated that as opposed to existing machines wherein the tools are stationary and the cartridges are rotated relatively thereto, the machine above described is such that the cartridge will be maintained stationary while the tools are caused to rotate.

In the apparatus described above with reference to Figures l-4, it is proposed to incorporate in the tool assembly 15, a special die head which is designated generally by 60 in Figure 1 and the construction of which is more clearly illustrated in Figures 5-7. Referring now to those figures, it will be seen that the die head comprises a body 61 on which is mounted a sleeve member 62, the latter being keyed to said body by means of one or more keys, such as 63, so that while it will rotate with the body, it is nevertheless capable of axial movement relatively thereto. Disposed in a recess at one end of the sleeve is a compression spring 64, which is held in position and tensioned by means of a threaded nut 65 applied to a threaded portion on the body 61. The spring 64 is adapted to take up gear play in the assembly as will be hereinafter made apparent. 66 denotes an outer sleeve which is formed externally with two spaced radially directed ribs 67 adapted to accommodate the prongs or arms of a shifting fork or the like therebetween. Interposed between the sleeves 62 and 66 are two radial ball bearings 68 and 69. 70 denotes a thrust bearing, one race 71 of which, is supported by a retaining ring 72 fixedly secured to the sleeve 66 by means of a pin 73, while the second race 74 is supported by retaining ring 75 which is fixedly secured to the sleeve 62 by means of a pin 76. The bearing 68 is retained in position by virtue of its location between a shoulder on the sleeve member 62 and the retaining ring 72, while the bearing 69 is retained in place by means of a threaded nut 77 on the sleeve 62 and a threaded collar 78 on the sleeve 66. As will be clearly seen from Figure 5, the sleeve member 62 is formed at its outer end with a portion 79 of enlarged diameter, said portion 79 being provided internally with a helical thread 80 which is adapted to serve as a rack. Mounted in slots in an enlarged portion 81 of the body 61 are sets of gear wheels 82 and 83. In Figure 5 one set of gear wheels 82, 83, is shown but in the complete die head, an end view of which is shown in Figure 7, four of such sets are present, said sets being displaced through 90 relatively to each other. Referring again to Figure 5, and also to Figure 1, it will be seen that the gear wheel 82 is carried by a shaft or spindle 84 which is freely journalled in the portion 81 of the body. The gear wheel 82 is adapted to mesh with the thread or rack 80 and also with the smaller gear wheel 83, which is carried by a shaft or spindle 85 also freely journalled in said portion 81. The gearwheel 83 is adapted to mesh with a helicalrack 86 which is carried by a block 87 slidable in radial guideways 88 formed in the outer end of the body 61. The block- 87 carries the tool, e. :g; a cutter or grinder disc or other device. As :indicated above four sets of gear wheels 82, 83 are provided in the body 61, each set being adapted to cooperate with a rack, such as 86, can tool block, the four tool blocks as indicated at 87 in Figure 7 being slidable in radial guides in the body 61, such guides being displaced at 90 relatively to each other.

It will be appreciated on reference to Figure 5, that relative axial movement between the sleeve 62 and the body 61 will result in rotational movement of the gear wheel 82 and hence of the gear wheel 83. Due to the fact that the gear wheel 83 meshes with the rack 86 in the tool block 87, rotational movement of said gear wheel will result in movement of said block in the radial guide 87, either inwardly or outwardly dependent upon the direction of rotation of said gear wheel. Movement of the sleeve 62 is effected through the medium of the sleeve 66, the latter being freely rotatable relatively to said sleeve 62 by virtue of the bearings 68 and 69, while the axial thrust necessary to impart axial movement to said sleeve 62 will be transmitted via the thrust bearing 70. The spring 64 is a compression spring which acts on the sleeve 62 and takes up play present in the gear sets. From the foregoing, it will be seen that by appropriate movement of the sleeve 66, the four tools may be moved together radially inwardly or outwardly as required, thereby, for example, in the present case to provide for accurate cutting of the required groove in the base portion of the cartridges.

It will be noted that the racks 80 and 86 and the gear wheels 82 and 83 are provided with helical teeth or the equivalent thereof. Such a construction is preferable, since in that way a smooth transmission is effected.

I claim:

1. In a cartridge finishing machine, a tool head comprising a rotary body portion having at least one guideway extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation of said head, a tool carrier element slidable in said guideway, a member movable axially with respect to said body portion while being rotatable therewith and means whereby relative axial movement between said body portion and said member will result in radial movement of said tool carrier element. 7

2. In a cartridge finishing machine, a tool head comprising a rotary body portion having at least one guideway extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, a tool carrier element slidable in said guideway, rack means associated with said carrier element, a member movable axially with respect to said body portion while being rotatable therewith, a rack means associated with said member and freely rotatable gear means associated with said body portion and cooperating with the rack means on said carrier element and on said member in such a manner that axial move ment of the latter relatively to said body portion will result in radial movement of said tool carrier element.

3. In a cartridge finishing machine, a tool head comprising a rotary body portion having at least one guideway extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, a tool carrier element slidable in said guideway, rack means associated with said carrier element, a first freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said rack means, a second freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said first gear wheel, a sleeve like member movable axially relatively to said body portion while being rotatable therewith and rack means associated with said sleeve like member and adapted to engage said second gear wheel, the arrangement being such that relative axial movement between the sleeve like member and said body portion will result in rotation of said gear wheels and consequ nt rania l' movement of the tool carrier element.

4. In a cartridge finishing machine, atool head comprising a rotary body portion having at least one guide way extending radially with respect to the axis, of rotation thereof, a tool carrier element slidable in sa d guideway, rack means associated with said carrier element, at first freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said tack means, a second freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said first gear wheel, a sleeve like member movable axially relatively to said body portion while being rotatable therewith, rack means associated with said sleeve like member and adapted to engage said second gear wheel and resilient means interposed between said sleeve like member and said body portion to take up play in the gearing, the arrangement being such that relative axial movement between the sleeve like member and said body portion will result in rotation of said gear wheels and consequent radial movement of the tool carrier element.

5. In a cartridge finishing machine, a tool head comprising a rotary body portion having at least one guideway extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, a tool carrier element slidable in said guideway, rack means associated with said carrier element, a first freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said rack means, a second freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said first gear wheel, a sleeve like member movable axially relatively to said body portion While being rotatable therewith, rack means associated with said sleeve like member and adapted to engage said second gear wheel, an actuating sleeve disposed around the sleeve like member in such a manner that the latter is freely rotatable relatively thereto and means interposed between said actuating sleeve and said sleeve like member whereby axial movement of said actuating sleeve will result in a corresponding axial movement of said sleeve like member relatively to said body portion with resultant rotation of the gear wheels and radial movement of the tool carrier element.

6. In a cartridge finishing machine, a tool head comprising a rotary body portion having at least one guideway extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, a tool carrier element slidable in said guideway, rack means associated with said carrier element, at first freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said rack means, a second freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said first gear Wheel, a sleeve like member movable axially relatively to said body portion while being rotatable therewith, rack means associated with said sleeve like member and adapted to engage said second gear wheel, an actuating sleeve surrounding said sleeve like member two radial antifriction bearings interposed between said actuating sleeve and said sleeve like member to allow for relative rotation therebetween and an axial thrust bearing interposed between said radial bearings, one race of such thrust bearing being associated with the actuating sleeve while the other is associated with the sleeve like member, the arrangement being such that axial movement of said actuating sleeve will result in a corresponding axial movement of the sleeve like member with resultant rotation of the gear wheels and radial movement of the tool carrier element.

7. In a cartridge finishing machine, a tool head comprising a rotary body portion having at least one guideway extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, a tool carrier element slidable in said guideway, rack means associated with said carrier element, a first freely rotatable gear wheel associated with said body portion and meshing with said rack means, a second freely rotatable gear wheel associated with References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES" PATENTS Wait Jan. 25, 1876 Newton June 25, 1907 Strong June 20, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 2, 1943 

